Report: Morsi set to authorise army to take on security role

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will authorise the armed forces to help police keep control of street protests over his attempts to push through a new constitution, the state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Credit: Reuters

The cabinet approved a legal measure which would give armed forces the power of arrest in a bid to "maintain security and protect vital state institutions", according to the report.

The newspaper did not say when the legal measure would be implemented.